Title: Cenotes Diving in Mexico
Tags: Caverns, Cenotes, Caves
Blog Entry: I just recently returned from a week vacation in Mexico. We stayed at the Occidental Xcaret resort about 15 minutes south of Playe del Carmen, on the Mayan Riviera. The weather was so-so, (week of Feb 21-28) and infact was too rough for the small dive boats to go out from the harbour on a couple of days.So I opted to do some guided cavern dives instead. Well I'm glad I did. Day1 we dove to Chac Mool/Kukulkan. Two caverns right next to each other, about 1/2 hour south of Playa Del Carmen. Teams are 4:1 with a guide who wears (std caver rig) doubles with 7 ft long reg hose. I'm am avid wreck diver, and use the same rig. Safety protocol is 1/3 air in & 1/3 back out, keeping 1/3 for emergency. Flutter kick is forbidden, frog kick is best to avoid stiring sediment or silt. We follow prelaid lines into the caverns, staying single file with the guide to max points designated as requiring cave certification & equipment to penentrate beyond. Typical dives were 35-40 minutes, 40-50 ft depths. I had my own light, but those without were supplied lights for signalling. Guides had hi-power HID light to light up the chambers. 2nd day was to two other more famous caverns: Dos Ojos (two eyes) and Bat Cave. I thoroughly enjoyed the cavern dives. Interesting part is starting the first part of dive in fresh water and passing through the halocline at about 25 ft to warmer/denser salt water. The transition is 2-3 feet deep and the area is quite blury, like looking though oil/water mixture, until your through it. Stalactites(celing), and stalagmites(on floor) were every where. Being an avid wreck diver I found cavern dving to be second nature, while some of the others commented on feeling a little anxious as we moved away from the entrance. Hilights for me were some exposed fossiles in the caverns and a couple of air domes we surfaced in to check out the ceilings , along with the various rock formations & stalctites hanging down from the ceilings etc. I'm definitley hooked & can't wait to go again. Mike D
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